SECU Elections: First Things First!

  Thank you!

North Carolina is fortunate to have an active - if struggling mightily! - pool of local newspapers, periodicals, and independent journalists. It's no "news" to anyone that what's true?, what's false?, what's fact?, what's fiction? is increasingly hard to determine. But, the truth still matters, doesn't it?

Certainly, some of our original leaders thought it mattered, as did the rights of free speech, assembly, petition, resolutions, that democratic-type stuff: 

✓ 1st Amendment of the U.S Constitution
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' 

Our leaders and institutions today make that search for truth more and more difficult. Some believe that "a glass of half-truths" is a glass half full, when in fact it is completely empty. Not sure why "they" don't trust "us"!  Does the truth really hurt that much?

took the time to pose a series of questions to the 5 SECU Board candidates, four responded. Wanted to thank the folks at BNC for doing so! As they correctly point out: "[SECU] ... has an unusual impact on North Carolina, and membership on the 11-member board matters."

Here are the responses [9/17/2026]: 

https://businessnc.com/candidates-in-secu-election-share-thoughts/ 

✅ Please consider casting your votes for Julian Hawes and Barry Browning. Your ballot is still valid if you vote only for the 2 member-nominated candidates.  

 Vote by mail or online.  Here's where to find complete voting info [link].

                   The noose news tightens!

✅ Beginning with the 2025 SECU Annual Membership Meeting, SECU members for the first time were prohibited from commenting or asking questions from the floor. In other words, SECU members were no longer allowed to speak at their membership meeting. Questions or concerns from members could be submitted in writing, in advance to the credit union. 

According to SECU, the credit union received 91 questions from 1,243 members attending the 2025 meeting. SECU took the liberty to consolidate the questions. Board Chair Mona Moon assured members that all questions would be subsequently posted on the credit union website.  CEO Leigh Brady spent well over an hour reading out the questions and providing answers.

✅ In reviewing  the agenda for the upcoming 2026 meeting, encountered the following:

 ✔"Up to 30 minutes will be set aside during the meeting for a question-and-answer session. Members may submit one question at the time of registration." Up to 30 minutes " for 3+ million SECU members, once a year? 

 How participation in your Annual SECU Membership Meeting has changed: 

 Recent Year   Member May Speak     Member Resolutions

       2022              Fully Permitted          Fully Permitted

       2023                 Restricted                   Restricted

       2024                 Prohibited                  Restricted

       2025                 Prohibited                  Prohibited  

😎 Time for new category?  "Member Questions": 2026 - Restricted to 30 minutes?

✅ Please consider casting your votes for Julian Hawes and Barry Browning. Your ballot is still valid if you vote only for the 2 member-nominated candidates.  

Vote by mail or online.  Here's where to find complete voting info [link].

 What do you have to say about that? Well, you can't and now...don't ask!